Community Food Champions

Got an appetite for doing something amazing in Coventry? As a Community Food Champion, you can meet new people, share ideas and have fun running a cooking club in your local area!

Getting involved is really easy. You don't need to be a pro - just a good home cook with the enthusiasm to match. Running a club can be fun and really rewarding, plus you can set one up with a friend or get your neighbours involved too. It's a great way to meet new people who live in your local area, and also offers a chance to show off your favourite dishes!

What's involved?

It's about organising a cooking club for people in Coventry, and learning some new skills yourself. You'll be giving local people the chance to try out healthy dishes, have fun, and offering tips and information on how to get enough fruit and veg, stay fit and healthy, and cook on a budget.

Who can be a Food Champion?

Anyone can become a Champion it's easy to sign up. You just need to enjoy cooking, working with people and have a passion for learning and sharing skills with others. We're looking for Young Food Champions too, so you can be involved even if you're under 18.

Do I need any skills?

You don't need to be a master chef or have any formal qualifications. If you like cooking for your friends and family at home, enjoy meeting new people and gaining new skills, then you fit the bill.

What support will I get?

We'll provide you with a free one-day training session on how to run a cooking club. This covers everything from food hygiene and what equipment you might need, to practical information on healthy eating and suggested recipes to start you on your way. We'll also provide posters, leaflets and other resources so you can plan events and let other people know what you're doing. You can download these on this page. What's more, the Cook and Eat Well Training and Cooking Club Manager will give you advice and support along the way, and you can get support from other Food Champions near you.

Is there any financial support?

The Cook and Eat Well in Coventry team can provide some funding to those who'd like to get involved and become a Community Food Champion. Contact us to find out more.

And, if you're a voluntary or community group, the Voluntary Action Coventry Cook and Eat Well Development Fund offers small grants of between £500 and £5,000. For more information, call 024 7622 0381 or visit the VAC website.

Tools

We'll give you a guide during your training which contains lots of information on how to set up and run a club. You can also download materials that will also help you to plan events and let others know what you're doing here.